Norman Judd

Norman Judd started playing water polo at the age of 15, and when he was 19 broke into the Dublin Swimming Club (DSC) first team and immediately helped them end Sandycove’s dominance by winning the Leinster Senior Water Polo League championship. A full-back, Judd made his international debut in 1924 and was in the Dublin side that won the Irish Senior Cup for the first time in 1925. He also played in the 1927 final when they regained the trophy. Through 2025 they are the only two occasions DSC have won the Cup.

When he was selected as a reserve for the 1924 Olympic and Tailteann Games, Judd was still only 20. Although he never took part in Paris, he did get to play four years later at the Amsterdam Olympics, when Ireland was eliminated after losing 11-1 to Belgium. He also took part in the 1928 Tailteann Games. Judd moved to Sandycove to play his domestic water polo in 1929 and immediately found success by winning the Leinster League title, and also collected a third Cup-winners medal. He was appointed Ireland’s captain in 1931.